animal parasite called trichina spiralis. In addition to the provisions for microscopic inspection of pork, the regulations provided for an examination, before and after slaughter, by veterinary surgeons, of all animals slaughtered for export or interstate trade, the condemnation of animals found to be diseased, and the proper identification of the carcasses and other products which enter into these two classes of our com

merce.

Meat inspection was instituted under these regulations on May 12, 1891, in New York, N. Y., and was confined to the inspection of export dressed beef. At the beginning of June, 1891, this work was inaugurated in Chicago, and immediately thereafter at South Omaha, Kansas City, Jersey City, and Hammond, Ind. Microscopic examination of hogs was commenced in Chicago on June 22, 1891, and later at Milwaukee, Omaha, Kansas City, and Boston. From the beginning of this work to the 1st day of October, 1891, there have been a total of 1,016,614 animals inspected both before and after slaughter. Of this number 844,581 were cattle, 15,330 calves, 93,331 sheep, and 63,372 hogs. There were 373,149 quarters of dressed beef tagged for export and 2,009,462 for interstate trade. In addition, 379,872 packages of canned, salted, and smoked meats were stamped in accordance with the regulations. There were 63,372 carcasses of hogs examined microscopically. The total number of animals condemned and sent to the fertilizing tanks was 1,976.

COST OF THE WORK.

It is exceedingly difficult to estimate the cost of the new branches of work undertaken by the Bureau of Animal Industry during the past year. This difficulty is increased by the fact that the amount of work done each month and the cost of the same fluctuates with the demands of commerce for our cattle and their products.

The work of inspection of export animals provided for by the act of Congress of August 30, 1890, has now been in operation for about ten months. The average cost of this character of work during this period. has been at the rate of $8,500 per month. During certain months it has gone as high as $10,279 and has fallen as low as $7,400. As an average, I should estimate that the cost of export-cattle inspection, which covers the work at interior stockyards, tagging, recording, and inspecting at the foreign animal wharves in Great Britain, would be $100,000 per annum.

The cost of maintaining the supervision of the movement of Southern cattle was at an average expenditure of $2,275 per month, or for the ten months during which the regulations are enforced $22,750. If a sufficient number of inspectors are employed to see that all cars are properly disinfected and that the regulations are enforced at all stockyards the annual expenditure will probably reach $30,000.

The inspection of import animals arriving in the United States from Canada amounts to $775 per month, or $9,300 per annum.

The work of meat inspection has only been fairly in operation since the commencement of the present fiscal year. The cost of the inspection of animals and carcasses in this work during the month of July, including the tagging of quarters of dressed beef going into the export and interstate trade and the stamping of packages of canned and salted beef and pork products, amounted to 5.7 cents per head for each animal inspected, making a total, for 195,664 animals in the month of July, of $11,160.71. This cost was reduced in the month of August to 4.75 cents per head, being a total number of 295,250 animals inspected at a cost of $13,981.39. A still further reduction in the cost of the work was accomplished during the month of September, when 438,593 animals were inspected at a cost of $14,200, an average of 3 cents per head. I am of the opinion that the inspection of animals and their marking for identification may be accomplished for a sum not exceeding 3 cents per head.

The figures given above do not include the cost of the microscopic inspection of hogs. This latter branch of the work has not been in operation long enough to be properly estimated for. It was necessary at first to educate examiners in the performance of their duties, and some little time was required to enable them to become proficient and rapid in their examinations. Another difficulty arose from the fact that several abattoirs which are being supplied with this character of inspection do not keep our examiners supplied with the quota of samples designated in their applications for this inspection. The cost of microscopic inspection during the month of July amounted to 20 cents per hog. The cost of the same work during the month of August was reduced to 13 cents per hog. Taking fifty animals as the average examined by each person, the cost of inspection would be about 5 cents per animal.

The demand for this inspection by the various packing and slaughtering establishments throughout the country is on the increase. Twentyseven establishments are now having their products inspected, and there are a number of other applicants with whose requests I have not been able to comply, as the appropriation for the Bureau of Animal Industry is too small to justify extending this branch of work. I earnestly recommend that Congress be asked to make an appropriation sufficiently large to enable us to extend this inspection to all applicants. Doubtless this branch of work was not considered by Congress at its last session in making the appropriations for the Bureau of Animal Industry, as the bill providing for it was not passed until the closing days of Congress. The benefits which have already accrued by the opening up of the foreign markets to pork products, the increased demand for beef products, and the reëstablishment of their reputation for wholesomeness and soundness in the markets of the world, together with the protection which this inspection furnishes to our own consumers, amply justify a liberal appropriation.

DIVISION OF ANIMAL PATHOLOGY.

The Division of Animal Pathology, as at present organized, covers all investigations in regard to the nature, prevention, and treatment of animal diseases. During the summer considerable time had to be spent in fitting up the new laboratory provided for by the last Congress and in transferring apparatus to it. Though experimental work was not stopped at any time, it was more or less interfered with during July and the latter part of August. The new quarters are superior to the old in every particular, and are well provided with apparatus and modern appliances for this class of investigations.

summer.

The investigations of Texas fever have been continued during the The results of the experiments confirm the conclusions of 1890, throwing new light upon the nature of the disease and strengthening the hope that its means of transmission will soon be fully understood.

The work on swine diseases has occupied the attention of the division throughout the year. A special report on swine plague was prepared with great care, which gives in detail the work done by the Bureau since 1886 in different parts of the country.

Inoculation as a means of preventing the diseases of animals, the different forms of pneumonia in cattle, and tuberculosis are among the subjects which have been carefully studied.

The investigation of animal parasites is being actively prosecuted with reference to our domesticated animals. These parasites are responsible for a large amount of harm, which is becoming more apparent by patient research. The material for a report on the animal parasites of cattle is now being collected.

Other diseases are being investigated as time and opportunity offer, and valuable work is being done in determining the essential cause of animal plagues.

DIVISION OF FIELD INVESTIGATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS WORK.

A corps of inspectors is constantly employed in making investigations as to the character, etc., of reported outbreaks of contagious diseases in various States. As an example of the necessity and importance of such work, it may be stated that an unfounded rumor of the existence of foot-and-mouth disease was recently published in Pennsylvania in spite of the lesson derived from our experience in the West last year. Upon careful examination, however, it was demonstrated, as in the latter case, that this was not foot-and-mouth disease, nor a contagious disease at all. The contradiction in this case followed the rumor so quickly that it is hoped no evil consequences to our cattle interests will ensue, but such unfounded rumors are as dangerous as they are inexcusable. There has been less disease of all kinds than formerly among our animals, and happily many of the contagious diseases common or occasional in other countries do not exist at all with us.

I take pleasure in calling your attention to the great value of, and unprecedented demand for, the Special Report on Diseases of the Horse, written by the most eminent veterinarians of this country, and issued by my direction. If we may judge by the character of letters received commending this publication, it is within bounds to say that it is worth the entire sum appropriated to the Department of Agriculture.

QUARANTINE DIVISION.

Stations securely inclosed, and provided with suitable sheds, yards, and conveniences for the care of stock, have been maintained for the ports of Boston, New York, and Baltimore. Cattle brought to these ports have been quarantined for a period of ninety days from the date of arrival at the station. Although the number of cattle imported during the year has not been large, the quarantining of them has been a necessary precaution to prevent the possible introduction of contagious diseases from foreign countries. The large expenditures which have been made by this country to exterminate such diseases from its borders have made this precaution of special importance to prevent the possibility of reinfection of the United States. In addition to the quarantine of cattle, a quarantine of fifteen days has been required upon all sheep and swine brought into the United States at these ports. The number of pure-bred sheep imported has been largely increased over that of other years, which makes this precaution of detention under veterinary inspection especially important and desirable.

When the demand for pure-bred animals is in excess of the supply, the tendency of those engaged in the business is to exercise less care to select only healthy animals and guard them against exposure to disease. It becomes purely a business enterprise with a manifest desire to curtail expense without especial regard to the ultimate loss which might result to buyers. The need for careful inspection under Government control is then more apparent. No important cases of disease have developed in either of the quarantine stations, and the vigilance of the officers of this Department has not been relinquished. The uniformly healthy condition of our flocks and herds in America makes it imperative that a strict oversight should be placed over all animals brought from foreign countries to prevent the introduction of such exotic maladies as would devastate an important industry, and lead to great loss.

DIVISION OF STATISTICS.

During the past year there has been an effort to give more prominence than usual to original investigation. The routine demands for results in crop-reporting and other lines are always exacting, and the means at hand for collecting special statistics and for compilation and preparation of special reports are limited. A more general and searching survey of the resources and condition of agriculture is necessary to

a proper understanding of its practical and political needs. Such investigation is progressing, and bulletins illustrating these conditions are in preparation. Some will present the status of rural industry in the older States, and others will show the resources and agricultural development of the States of the prairies and the plains.

Graphic illustration of statistics has met with much favor among industrial educators and students of rural economy. The issues of the past years, in this line, amount to 40,000 copies, the distribution having been mainly to farmers' institutes, agricultural and other colleges, and to libraries.

Special investigation is in progress in various lines in Europe for more exact data relative to production and prices of products with which America competes. It is realized by all thoughtful minds that while home consumption requires nine-tenths of our agricultural production, an active demand for any surplus relieves stagnation in the markets and advances prices. As this demand is limited and variable, its stimulation in certain lines is practicable and desirable. An agent is now in Europe laboring zealously against existing prejudice for the substitution of corn for rye, potatoes, and other food of the laboring masses. Much can be done towards enlarging both the quantity and variety of our exports of the products of agriculture, and the first step in this direction must be a more intimate knowledge by our own people of the condition and character of foreign markets. This information it devolves upon this division to provide. Much that is new in this direction is proposed for the statistical service of this Department. An increase in exports of only 10 per cent means an enlargement of the income of our farmers of over $60,000,000, and a steadying of prices of all that is consumed at home. A few thousands properly expended for such a purpose might add as many millions to the national agricultural income.

Anticipating a favorable result in the effort to extend the trade for our agricultural products in the South American Republics, and realizing that what our people needed in order to enable them to take advantage of such improved conditions of trade as might, through the efforts of this Government, be established with these countries--an anticipation which has, in regard to some of them, been already realizedthere has been prepared from time to time in this division, and published in its regular monthly crop report bulletin, a series of articles upon the resources and agricultural conditions of leading countries of South America. As these reports go largely to the same circle of readers, I have directed that the several reviews of the countries of Central and South America referred to be republished in a bulletin for general distribution. This will no doubt be ready before the close of the year. The employment of special agents to further investigate this subject, the character of agricultural products demanded in these countries, the prices obtainable for them, the quality of goods demanded, and, in a general way, the opportunities that exist in this direction, is